Simple Registry hack for quick notepad access

Ever had a need to edit a file that has no editor associated with it? Or ever wanted to open a file in your favorite editor even though it's associated with another program?

You could double click on it and wait forever for Windows to pop open the open with dialog box, choose open with from the right click menu or... With a simple registry hack, right click on it and choose the editor to open it with:

  • open regedit (always make sure you have a known good back up of the registry)
  • expand HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT*
  • Add a key called shell
  • Add a key called Notepad
  • Add a key called Command
  • Edit the REG_SZ value to read notepad %1

I have a number of different editors configured this way and it really saves me alot of time.


This was first published in April 2001

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